The Raptors’ frontcourt issues are hard to ignore, and that’s exactly why Precious Achiuwa is back in the conversation.
Sacramento’s 1-8 start has put the Kings in a rough spot, and while the chatter around Toronto has centered on Domantas Sabonis, there’s another big man on that roster who could make sense for the Raptors if they miss out on the bigger swing. Achiuwa is the name worth watching.
That might sound like a tough sell to Raptors fans who remember his first stint in Toronto, and the reaction is understandable. But it’s been three seasons since he wore a Raptors uniform, and the version of Achiuwa playing now is not the same player who was still searching for his place back then.
He’s settled into a clear role as a high-energy frontcourt piece, and that matters for a Toronto team that still needs help on the boards and around the rim. Achiuwa would bring a cost-effective option to a roster that could use another reliable big for Darko Rajakovic.
This season, Achiuwa is putting up 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 stocks while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. The rebounding numbers don’t jump out, but he’s also sharing the floor with Sabonis, which changes the way those numbers look. With a different frontcourt partner, his activity on the glass could show up more clearly.
Offensively, he’s become a cleaner fit. Achiuwa is a solid finisher and works well in screen-and-roll action. He’s also not the turnover-prone player he was during his Toronto days, and his offensive feel has taken a noticeable step forward through his time in New York and Sacramento.
The defensive appeal is just as important. Achiuwa’s length and foot speed let him cover ground, and he can create problems in passing lanes while also offering some rim protection. That kind of versatility would fit into Rajakovic’s chaos-driven defensive approach, and it would give Toronto another big option alongside Jakob Poeltl to help offset some of Poeltl’s defensive shortcomings.
Sabonis’ defense gets plenty of criticism online, and while not all of it is fair, he still isn’t a strong defender. Achiuwa has helped cover for a lot of that.
There’s also the money angle. At a sub-$6 million salary, Achiuwa has a tradable contract, though bringing him in as Toronto’s only move would be tricky financially. Still, if Bobby Webster decides to shake up the roster, Achiuwa is the kind of affordable addition that could make sense.
He’s trade-restricted until mid-January according to Spotrac, so the Raptors have time to sort through the possibilities. And in a perfect world, Toronto could even land him as a sweetener in a Sabonis deal, though that feels more like a dream scenario than a likely one.
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